DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip - The latest proposal put forward by Israel's Prime Minister regarding the future of the Gaza Strip indicates a desire for prolonged Israeli oversight over both security and civilian matters in the region, a move promptly rejected by Palestinian leaders and at odds with the vision promoted by Washington.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a concise two-page document outlining his postwar strategy to his security Cabinet on Thursday night. This plan, however, faces immediate opposition from Palestinian officials and contradicts the U.S. stance on the conflict-torn territory.
The Biden administration advocates for eventual Palestinian governance in both Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank as a stepping stone toward Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu's proposal, in contrast, suggests the continuation of Israeli control with hand-picked Palestinian administrators overseeing Gaza, a proposition unlikely to gain traction among Palestinians.
Simultaneously, efforts to broker a ceasefire appear to be gaining momentum, with mediators expected to unveil a new proposal during a high-level meeting in Paris over the weekend. The U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have been engaged in extensive discussions aimed at halting Israel's devastating offensive in Gaza before the onset of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The conflict's toll continues to mount, with Israeli airstrikes overnight claiming the lives of at least 92 Palestinians, including women and children, according to health officials and reports from the ground. The devastation is palpable, with one prominent Gaza comedian, Mahmoud Zueitar, seen in online videos rushing his injured sister to a hospital following an airstrike on their apartment building.
Zueitar, known for his lighthearted social media posts amid the conflict, expressed despair over the situation, lamenting the potential forced exodus from Gaza. The broader Palestinian death toll since the conflict's onset has surpassed 29,500, with close to 70,000 individuals wounded, underscoring the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
Netanyahu's proposed vision for Gaza, though lacking in specifics, emphasizes Israel's determination to neutralize Hamas, the militant group governing the territory since 2007. The plan envisages a demilitarized Gaza under Israeli military oversight, alongside the establishment of a buffer zone within the territory—an approach likely to face objections from the U.S.
The Palestinian Authority swiftly condemned Netanyahu's plan as "colonialist and racist," likening it to a reoccupation of Gaza by Israel. The Biden administration, while not yet privy to the details of the proposal, emphasized the importance of any plan aligning with fundamental principles, including the prevention of terrorism and the preservation of Gaza's territorial integrity.
Amidst these diplomatic maneuvers, the war's toll on Gaza's civilian population continues unabated, with widespread displacement, infectious diseases, and food shortages exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. In the West Bank, tensions remain high following an Israeli drone strike that claimed the lives of two Palestinians, fueling further unrest in the region.